Category Archives: Ratchet/Gear

This blog post records my setup for cutting ratchet teeth. I having been building reels one at a time, so this setup is needed for each reel. The bushing/ratchet blank is held on a mandrel in a 4 jaw chuck … Continue reading →

The bushing and ratchet are made as one piece. I have not tried gluing two pieces of Delrin together because I don’t know of a suitable glue, and I have concerns about concentricity. Terminology: Is it a ratchet if it … Continue reading →

For several months I have been building an engraving mill and not producing any reels. So now I am back on reels, and have to re-familiarize myself with the processes. At the center of the reel is a critical part … Continue reading →

I recently bought Sherline P/N 8700, “CNC Rotary Indexer”. It consists of three units. The first is the standard 4 inch rotary table, but with a stepper motor attached. Here you see it set up to cut teeth on a … Continue reading →

The bushing is pressed into the spool, and rides on a .2500 inch diameter spindle. For a good running fit, I finish the bushing bore with a “standard” 6.4 mm (0.252 inch) reamer. This is a close enough fit that … Continue reading →

When metal is cut, a sharp edge is often left. Part of making a useable product is removing any sharp edges or (even worse) burrs. Even very small details of parts may have detrimental burrs. —— When I developed my … Continue reading →

My new “Fixed Spindle Reel” is 2.78 inch diameter, but I also intend to make a smaller version of 2.28 inch diameter. The two versions can use mostly the same parts, except that end plates and spool ends must be … Continue reading →